Native Landscapes
We provide comprehensive native landscaping solutions that carefully blend native ephemerals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Our expertise extends to revitalizing existing landscapes by integrating native plants, which can significantly improve ecosystem health. For instance, planting a few native trees can supply vital resources for pollinators, promoting biodiversity.
Oaks serve as a prime example of this approach. They support numerous insect species without causing issues for homeowners, particularly when situated away from living spaces. Their tall canopies facilitate natural processes above, maintaining open and comfortable recreational areas like patios.
Each native landscape we design balances contemporary aesthetics with functional benefits. Below, you will find essential terms and planting concepts that illustrate the principles guiding our design philosophy.
Complete Native Landscapes
Enhancement typically involves removing existing non-native plants. The selection of plants is based on the existing soil profiles to ensure compatibility and sustainability. Invasive species or non-native plants are generally excluded from the process. Additionally, cultivars of native plants are avoided to preserve the natural genetic diversity and integrity of the local ecosystem.
Integrated Native Landcapes
Depending on the intent, some existing problematic or unwanted plants are removed. Native plants are then introduced periodically each year until the landscape reaches approximately 70% native coverage. This approach allows room for desirable non-native species. The general guideline is that the non-natives retained should not be aggressive or compete with the native plants (e.g., Buxus species, Japanese maple).
Key stone Plant incorporation
Keystone plant species play a critical role in maintaining food web structures by serving as essential hosts for pollinators and providing a primary source of nourishment for many insect species. Protecting and restoring native plant habitats through the widespread planting of keystone species can significantly help reverse the decline of native ecosystems and their pollinators. If every homeowner were to cultivate just a few keystone plants, neighborhoods could collectively support hundreds of oak trees and pawpaw stands, creating vital habitats that sustain native food webs and promote biodiversity. This community-level effort would enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to healthier, more balanced environments.
FAQs
What is a native straight species?
A native straight plant species is one that hasn’t been crossbred by humans and usually comes from a local nursery. These plants are grown from local seeds, making them easy to care for and well-suited to the area. Because they come from natural, unchanged seeds, each plant has slightly different genetics. Native plant enthusiasts prefer this because it reflects how plants grow in natural local environments.
What is a cultivated variety native species (Nativars) ?
A cultivated variety of a native plant is one that has been selectively bred and chosen for specific characteristics. For instance, Heliopolis is a yellow-flowering perennial that grows to about 3 feet tall, whereas its wild counterparts tend to grow taller and exhibit a more untamed growth habit. Cultivars are particularly valuable in formal garden settings due to their typically tidier appearance and more manageable size compared to wild plants. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether all cultivars offer the same level of pollen benefits to pollinators as their native, wild relatives.
Is there a size requirement for Native Landscapes?
The incorporation of keystone plants can be achieved even in the smallest of lots. While a large tree is often used to create this effect, it can also be accomplished through a group planting of shrubs and perennials. The impact of these plants is enhanced when a small section of the area is left undisturbed, allowing the natural plant dynamics to flourish and create a focal point within the landscape. This approach not only maximizes limited space but also promotes biodiversity and ecosystem health in residential or urban settings.
Are all native species invasive?
Recently, there has been concern regarding the use of native plants due to their perceived ability to dominate landscapes. While it is true that some native species can be vigorous and spread quickly, this represents only a small fraction of native plants. These aggressive species are typically opportunistic, thriving primarily in environments with challenging conditions, such as poor drainage. In such situations, only a few plant species like cattails or goldenrod may dominate.
To address this, we provide additional services that work alongside native plantings to create more balanced and sustainable landscapes. For example, we offer water management solutions that help predict and mitigate water accumulation in waterlogged areas. This approach allows for healthier growth conditions, supporting a diverse range of plant species and preventing any one from becoming overly dominant.
Are all non- native species problematic?
There has been a push to eliminate all non-native plants, and although this approach has certain benefits, it remains largely unrealistic. Many homeowners and gardeners have invested significant time and effort into cultivating non-native ornamental plants that often grow slowly and require careful maintenance. Moreover, some non-native species are slow-growing and do not reproduce aggressively, reducing their potential to become invasive.
Ecologists generally agree that there is room for incorporating some non-native plants into landscapes, provided they meet specific criteria. Key among these is that such plants should not have competitive advantages over native species, for example, they should not emerge earlier in the spring to outcompete native flora, as seen with invasive species like buckthorn and honeysuckle. With careful selection, non-native plants can coexist without disrupting local ecosystems, offering aesthetic variety without threatening biodiversity.